Category: Christian Faith

SOLUS CHRISTUS

In Luke 12:35-40, our Lord Jesus talks about spiritual preparedness and faithful readiness — about staying faithful, staying awake, staying alert, because we don’t know the hour when the Son of God will come again to make all things new. In fact, Jesus says, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like those waiting for their master to return…”

So, how do we stay “dressed ready” with our “lamps burning” when the world around us is shouting at us from every direction? How do we avoid getting tangled up in the lies and deceptions that surround us? How do we endure in true faith when the pressures of life and the noise of the culture try to lead us astray from Jesus Christ our Savior?

Well, the answer is the living and active Lamp of God’s Word within the Holy Scriptures that lights our path and keeps us from stumbling in the darkness of this world’s falsehoods. It’s trusting in the Word of God come what may, just like Abraham and Sarah, Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Joseph and Mary. That’s faith — trusting in what God says, even when the world says it’s foolish.

In Hebrews chapter 11, we hear about a kind of Faith Hall of Fame, listing those who lived by trusting in God’s Word, even when they couldn’t see the whole picture. They didn’t see the fulfillment of all God’s promises in their lifetime, but they kept their eyes on the “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). They stayed faithful because they anchored their lives in what God had spoken, and that’s what we’re called into as we await the eventual return of Jesus our Lord.

But let’s be honest: There’s so much confusion, so many voices telling us what’s true, telling us what’s up and what’s down. For indeed, it’s spiritual warfare we’re engaged in! And our Lord Jesus warned us in Matthew 24 that many will come in the last days claiming to have the truth, with false teachers and deceivers trying to lead even God’s people astray.

Now, I have to confess that I consider myself to be a very ecumenical person. That is, I’m someone who respects and encourages interdenominational relations and cooperation within the Universal Church of Jesus Christ. In other words, I’m broadly supportive of Team Jesus in all its forms and expressions. In addition, I also consider myself to be generally affirming of interreligious dialogue, which means I’m supportive of conversation between the different religions of humanity for the purpose of mutual understanding and nonviolent coexistence. However, as a Christian of the Lutheran Confession, I am bound by conscience to the Word of God to always assert and freely declare the preeminent gospel truth that reconciliation and salvation with God comes in/with/through Christ alone — which is the Solus Christus of the Protestant Reformation. (Solus Christus is Latin for “Christ Alone.”)

Honestly, I really don’t like being controversial in my gospel proclamation, but the New Covenant gospel principle of Solus Christus will always be controversial no matter what, in all times and places. As a result, the following is some straightforward gospel controversy… Like the TV streaming platforms of Apple+, Disney+ and Paramount+, our fallen and sinful humanity will always prefer a “Christ+” belief (so to speak) over and above the gospel principle of Christ Alone. Consequently, throughout history we have seen attempt after attempt to uplift some sort of Christ+ theological scheme. There was the “Christ + good works” theology of the opponents of the Apostle Paul, as they tried to add our good works in cooperation with Christ’s atoning work for our salvation. But St. Paul, in no uncertain terms, completely and categorically rejected any idea of our ability to add anything to Christ’s work for our eternal salvation.

Not that our good works are bad, of course. In fact, good works are very much a part of our Christian faith. We are saved by God’s grace alone through faith in Christ alone, not by our good works; however, we are saved by God’s grace in Christ for the sake of living a Christ-like life of good works as best we can — for doing good works as our way of life in response to God’s free grace given us (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

Continuing on, there was also the “Christ + secret esoteric knowledge” of the ancient Gnostics, seeking to add secret spiritual knowledge to Christ for our salvation. But here’s where it gets even more controversial… Much later, in the Seventh Century AD, the “Christ + a Prophet” theology out of Arabia came along and insisted on the addition of the ministry of Muhammad for the salvation of the human race. Then fast-forward to the Nineteenth Century AD, when there arose yet another “Christ + a Prophet” theology that promoted the idea of an additional lost-and-found testament to Christ that had been buried away by an ancient American named Moroni. And then, during that same Nineteenth Century, in the Year of our Lord 1854, there was the “Christ + Mary” dogma of the Immaculate Conception of St. Mary, stating that Mary herself was born without sin — which arguably, and in all actuality, elevates Mary to the status of co-redeemer with Christ our Lord.

So, whether it’s Christ plus good works, or Christ plus a secret esoteric knowledge, or Christ plus some prophet, or Christ plus Mary, or Christ plus any other prophetic addition or unbiblical innovation, we are conscience-bound to the plain and precious gospel truth of Christ Alone. For there is only One who was born without sin: Christ alone. There is only One who is the Almighty God incarnate in human flesh: Christ alone. There is only One who conquered sin and death on our behalf: Christ alone. There is only One who is the Mediator between God and humanity: Christ alone. 

Therefore, regarding Christian faith and salvation? Regarding Christian justification and sanctification? Regarding Christian life and hope? All thanks, praise and glory be to God, because it’s CHRIST ALONE who bestows these all-surpassing gifts!

So again, how do we guard our hearts and stay on the right path? We cling to the Word of God within the Holy Scriptures. For indeed, when we read the Bible regularly, and when we explore it with others in small group Bible studies, then the Word of God within the pages of the Bible becomes a shield around our hearts, keeping our spiritual lamps full with the oil of the Holy Spirit, ready for the Great Day of our Master’s glorious Second Advent yet to come.

In these times of rampant deception, as we wait for the Lord’s return, let’s be a people who cling to the Word of God like all those in the Faith Hall of Fame found in Hebrews 11. The world may try to fool us, but God’s Word will never fail — for the Word of the Lord is our guiding light in the darkness, our spiritual sword and shield in these days. So, let’s keep ourselves in the Word — abide in it and know it well — and by God’s grace and Holy Spirit, it is Christ alone who will keep us firmly grounded in his truth and salvation unto the very end, and beyond the end.

Together in Christ,  Pastor Tim

CALLED TO WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP

As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, our Christian faith is not meant to be lived in isolation. The Bible clearly emphasizes the importance of believers gathering in regular communal worship and actively participating in a local church fellowship. And as Lutherans, we confess that God has called us to live out our faith in community, gathering regularly for grace-filled worship and fellowship. Rooted in the Holy Scriptures and guided by the Lutheran Confessions, this call reflects God’s gracious design for his people to receive his good gifts, grow in faith, serve one another, and witness to Christ within our fallen and sinful world, united as the Body of Christ.

The Scriptures make clear that gathering together for worship is a divine command for believers. In Hebrews 10:24-25, we receive firm exhortation for this purpose, where it states the following: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day [of the Lord’s return] drawing near.” This passage emphasizes the necessity of regular assembly, where believers receive God’s Word and Sacrament, and where they give one another mutual encouragement in faith, especially in view of Christ’s imminent Second Advent to come.

The Lutheran Confessions affirm this biblical mandate. The Augsburg Confession (Article VII) defines the Church as “the congregation of saints in which the gospel is purely taught and the sacraments are rightly administered.” Regular communal worship is the context where these powerful means of God’s grace (i.e., Christ’s Word and Sacrament) are faithfully delivered, sustaining and strengthening us in true faith and hope. In addition, we as Lutherans believe that the Lord himself is at work in our assemblies of worship forgiving sins, creating faith, and renewing his people through his gifts. And as we gather together in praise and prayer, we participate in a foretaste of the heavenly worship described in Revelation 5:9-14.

No Christian is meant to function alone. Our faith is not solitary but lived out in the context of a local church fellowship. We are baptized into the community of Jesus Christ where we depend on one another and serve with our God-given gifts. The Small Catechism teaches that the Holy Spirit “calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth.” And this calling, gathering, enlightening, and sanctifying happens concretely in the local congregation, where believers hear the biblical Word of God proclaimed (both law and gospel). Moreover, the local church is also the place of mutual care and accountability. For Galatians 6:1-2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens,” which requires active involvement in a fellowship where relationships foster love and support.

Faithful participation in a local church yields profound spiritual benefits. First, it anchors us in God’s grace. Second, it strengthens us to live out our various vocations of family, work, citizenship, and so on. Third, the local church is God’s primary instrument for mission. Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is a corporate call, fulfilled as believers work together to evangelize, support missions, and amplifying our impact for God’s Kingdom. By being faithful members of our own congregation, Mount Olive Lutheran Church, we contribute to this work of the Kingdom.

Despite the clear biblical mandate, too many Christians at this present time neglect communal worship, citing their busyness or personal preferences, or their disillusionment with imperfect human organizations. Yet, Scripture warns against this in Hebrews 10:25, as isolation seriously weakens our faith and hinders our growth in Christ. While no congregation or organization of the Church of Jesus Christ is perfect, God nevertheless calls us to commit to a local congregational assembly and “to bear with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

In our digital age, some may argue that online services or private devotions are sufficient. But while these digital and private alternatives can help supplement our faith, they cannot replace the embodied, relational nature of the Living Church of Christ gathered in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The biblical vision of divine worship involves physical presence, shared sacraments, and personal ministry — elements that virtual platforms cannot duplicate.

God commands his people to gather regularly for worship and to be faithful members of a congregational fellowship, because it is his design for our spiritual flourishing. As Lutherans we rejoice in this command and calling to prioritize corporate worship, engage actively in our congregation (including participation in one of our two small group Bible studies), and use our gifts to serve one another. So let us heed the call of Scripture: Do not neglect meeting together. And in this, we honor God, encourage one another, and prepare for the great “Day” when we will worship him forever in perfect fellowship and eternal joy.

Happy Summertime! Pastor Tim

1700TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NICENE CREED

This coming May 20th, 2025, the Christian world will commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the preeminent creedal confession of Christianity: the Nicene Creed, which was first articulated in the City of Nicaea (43 miles outside of Constantinople) in the year 325 AD. So, as Lutherans, we join the global Church of Jesus Christ in celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed as an enduring confession of faith in the Triune God and in the saving work of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. For Lutherans, the Nicene Creed is a theological anchor and vibrant testimony to God’s grace, and its anniversary invites us to remain grounded in the unchanging truth of God’s Word and the theological fundamentals reflected in the Nicene Creed. Moreover, this 1700th anniversary also invites us to engage in ecumenical dialogue and cooperation with other branches of Christianity.

Back in 325 AD, the early Church faced a crisis. A teacher named Arius was claiming that Jesus Christ was a created being, not fully divine. So the Ecumenical Church Council of Nicaea gathered to defend the truth of Christ, producing the Nicene Creed (later refined in 381 at Constantinople). This creedal statement of the Christian Faith boldly declares that Jesus is “begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father” — fully God, of One Being with the Father and the Holy Spirit in an Eternal Tri-Unity (see the second article of the Nicene Creed). It’s a forthright and unwavering statement of who God is and what he has done to save us through his only begotten Son, Jesus.

When we confess the Nicene Creed, we’re not just reciting ancient history; we’re proclaiming the Living God who saves us through his Son, “who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven” (second article of the Nicene Creed). In an age of theological ambiguity, the Nicene Creed grounds us in the truth of the Gospel, pointing us to Christ as the sole mediator of God’s New Covenant. In a world that often dilutes God’s grace and truth, this creedal statement keeps us anchored to the truth of Christ our only Savior.

The 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed unites Christians across traditions: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, and others. This shared creedal confession creates a basis for meaningful unity, even as we acknowledge and navigate differences. For example, Lutherans may differ with the Roman Catholic maximalist understanding of St. Mary’s role within Christian spirituality, or Lutherans may differ with some Protestants concerning the spiritual efficacy of the Sacraments, but our common affirmation of Christ as our Divine Messiah gives us a starting point for increased ecumenical dialogue and cooperation.

True Christian unity is not uniformity, therefore. We’re not meant to gloss over theological divides. We’re not here to pretend differences don’t exist or to compromise our Lutheran confession for a superficial unity. Consequently, we Lutherans can approach inter-church dialogue and cooperation while holding fast to our theological and spiritual distinctives: [1] the Lutheran principle of the preeminence of the Holy Scriptures as the primary source and authority for Christian faith and life; [2] the Lutheran understanding that God’s Word within the Holy Scriptures speaks both Law and Gospel, and we must clearly distinguish between Law and Gospel (not confusing them together); and [3] the Lutheran conviction that God’s saving grace and truth are primarily transmitted to us through both the Word and Sacraments of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. So we approach Christian ecumenism with clarity and charity, focusing on the Nicene Creed’s proclamation of the Triune God and Christ’s redemptive work as the basis for Christian unity.

As we celebrate 1700 years of the Nicene Creed, we join Christians throughout the world to proclaim the Triune God with boldness and joy. For in the Everlasting Covenant of Jesus Christ that the Nicene Creed uplifts, the great New Covenant sealed by the blood of Christ, God freely offers salvation. Through “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins” (see the third article of the Nicene Creed) God pours out his grace, uniting us to Christ and giving us the gift of faith to trust in him alone for our salvation. So as we confess the Nicene Creed during these Seven Sundays of Eastertime, we stand shoulder to shoulder with Christians across centuries and traditions, transformed and united by the Good News of Jesus Christ that saves us. This Gospel truth is our anchor, and it’s the foundation for our ecumenical relations with all the various branches of the Church of Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Christ is risen! Pastor Tim

THREE DAYS OF AMAZING GRACE

The Three Days, also known as the Triduum in Latin, takes place at the climax of Holy Week, and it’s actually one worship service in three parts over three days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Saturday Easter Vigil.

First comes Triduum Part I (Maundy Thursday), and the word “Maundy” means mandate or commandment, referring to the Love Commandment of Jesus Christ our Lord. Consequently, Maundy Thursday centers on Jesus’ command for us to love one another as he loves us. It is also the night we commemorate the instituting of the Lord’s Supper. Then, at the end of this first part of the Triduum, the lights are dimmed and the altar is stripped bare while Psalm 22 is read, foreshadowing the commemoration of the crucifixion of our Lord on Good Friday.

Second comes Triduum Part II (Good Friday), and this day is the second part of the liturgy of The Three Days, extending from Maundy Thursday through Saturday Easter Vigil (Easter Eve). As the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world gathers to remember the suffering and death of Jesus on this day, the altar is dressed in black, and we focus on the significance of the sacrificial love that Jesus showed us upon the cross of Calvary. In this way, Good Friday brings us to the foot of the cross, where Jesus bore our sins and died in our place. Here we stand before the cross, beholding the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world [see John 1:29].

Third comes Triduum Part III (Saturday Easter Vigil), and this is the night when Christians around the world gather to celebrate Christ’s passage from darkness to light, from death to life. The Easter Vigil service is the other candlelight service of the Church calendar. This special service includes powerful signs: a “new fire” burning in a fire pit outside the church, the Christ Candle lit from the new fire, our handheld candles lit from the Christ Candle, the Word of our Baptismal Covenant declared, and the very first Eucharistic Meal of Eastertime received. As the altar is changed from the darkness of Good Friday to the white and gold of heavenly light, we are the first to exclaim, “Alleluia! Christ is risen!”

For Lutherans, the Triduum is the very heart of the Christian year. Far from a mere historical remembrance, the Triduum invites us to encounter the Living Christ, and through faith, we are united in the awe and wonder of his victory. Maundy Thursday calls us to love and serve as Christ did, and to be strengthened and kept in true faith by his body broken and blood shed for us, received in bread and wine. Good Friday anchors us in the cross as the source of our atonement and reconciliation with God. And Saturday Easter Vigil proclaims the new light and life we possess, showered upon us in our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, which changes everything for us.

Again, Maundy Thursday calls you to love and to receive grace. Good Friday anchors you in Christ’s atoning sacrifice and forgiveness, even when your life seems to be falling apart. Saturday Easter Vigil steadies you to wait on God’s timing to bring light anew and life everlasting. So the Triduum isn’t just three holy days — it’s a way of life. We live as those who are set free. When guilt creeps in, remind yourself that your sins died with Jesus on the cross and stayed behind in the tomb when he rose again. When fear of death looms, cling to the promise of your own resurrection made possible by his. And always celebrate small victories, like a kind word or a mended relationship, as echoes of the big victory of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ our Savior.

Blessed Triduum & Happy Easter!!! Pastor Tim

BAPTISMAL EVANGELISM

I recently read the Epistle of First Peter, and the words “Baptism now saves you” really stood out to me (see 1 Peter 3:18-22). As a result, I’ve been thinking a lot recently about our commission and ministry from our Lord Jesus Christ to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18-20). And of course, our baptizing ministry to and for all peoples and nations is preferably done within the assembly of worship.

In worship, Christ is encountered. In the liturgy, Christ is present and self-giving, and he is ever-addressing his people. By the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God is active and present through his Word and Sacraments. Consequently, a blessed assurance and confidence runs high within Lutheranism concerning the purpose of gospel proclamation and liturgical worship. In particular, according to the Word of God, Christ and his salvation are reliably encountered in Holy Baptism, in Holy Communion, and in the Holy Scriptures.

In the Old Testament, Psalm 105:1-6 declares the following… “O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered, O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.”

In this biblical song of praise, the “deeds” that are to be made known to the “peoples” (i.e., the unbelieving Gentile nations) are referring to the deeds of God in and through his Covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God’s great covenantal acts are to be made known to the nations, to both believers and unbelievers, through our shared liturgical life by “singing” and “praising” and “telling” and “remembering” God’s deeds of creation and salvation. And the purpose of such liturgical worship by the People of Israel was not merely for historical remembrance but for an encounter with the Lord God himself.

All of this is only intensified in the New Covenant. Our Lord Jesus performs his words, deeds, miracles and judgments in and through the worshiping assembly of his Church. In fact, Martin Luther comments on Psalm 105 by saying there are two things that belong to the true Christian believer: [1] The true believer has an illumined recognition of the Lord’s words and deeds (they have ears to hear and eyes to see the spiritual reality of things), and [2] The true believer has God-given affections for the Lord Jesus who is powerfully present in his Word and Sacraments. Therefore, liturgical worship is not merely a ‘style of worship’ but a whole theology of worship. Unbelievers hear the good news, and believers are conformed to the likeness of the Lord God whom they worship. In the liturgical assembly, Christ is present both to make disciples and to deepen discipleship. And it’s been said that the most solid and unwavering means of God-inspired, liturgical and missional activity comes by way of the Covenant of Holy Baptism.

In the great and global story of Christianity throughout the ages, neither door-to-door canvassing, nor tent revivals, nor even having stadium crusades have been the greatest vehicle of Christian evangelization. In every age of the Church of Jesus Christ, it’s Holy Baptism — particularly infant baptism — that has been the overwhelmingly greatest means of increasing, growing and expanding the Church globally. Since ancient days, Christians have babies and then bring those babies to Christ (in faith) to receive Christ’s saving Covenant of Holy Baptism, so that those infant children might one day grow to accept and affirm God’s baptismal grace and salvation for themselves by faith.

Through baptizing adults and children and infants alike, the Lord Jesus has built into the New Covenant of Holy Baptism an evangelistic feature that ensures the propagation of faith and salvation in which the Lord himself does all the saving work and receives all the glory. So, if we desire to see growth for congregations of the Church in our land, then every single one of us (both pastors and parishioners) would do well to ask people if they or their children have been baptized. And with this one simple evangelistic question, we will find that a great deal of gospel discussions will follow. In addition, we need to especially encourage married couples to bring their children to the waters of Holy Baptism.

A grace-filled theology and practice of Holy Baptism keeps the Church evangelistic and mission minded. Baptism is a mighty deed of the Lord, a miraculous act, and an absolving judgment — giving us much about which to praise and adore him. God’s grace in Christ alone fills our mouths with true praise, and our worship liturgy gives us the Bible-based words to do so. Furthermore, the evangelism of Holy Baptism is especially powerful when it takes place during our Sunday morning worship service, and it’s been too long (way too long) since the Sacrament of Holy Baptism has been administered at Mt. Olive.

I have to say that a lot of my best evangelistic moments have started with asking either of these simple questions: “Are you baptized?” and “Has your child been baptized?” So let us all commit to asking these simple evangelistic questions among the people of our relational circles more often. And let us always pray to God for guidance concerning who and when to ask these questions.

Together in Christ’s Mission, Pastor Tim

PASTOR TIM’S ANNUAL REPORT

Over the past several years at Mt. Olive, we’ve been engaging with our community in new ways, especially through our annual Vacation Bible School and Trunk or Treat events. We are also in the beginning stages of a new relationship with Trail Life USA. And with Justin Tagawa’s input on our church council, we are looking into new ways we can utilize our church property for mission and ministry within our Crescenta Valley community.

In addition to all of this, we’ve started an outreach Bible study at Panera Bread Restaurant in La Cañada every third Saturday at 8:30am. We also have a Meetup.com page for this special Bible study, and we’ve had three Bible study participants join us from this social media page so far.

Regarding worship, we are rotating between three liturgies throughout the year: ELW 2, ELW 4 (which is basically LBW 2), and Victory Feast. Jim Tagawa has formed the Cross Street Kids group with our little ones, and they have presented various musical offerings for worship several times this past year. We continue to be blessed to have Sean Paxton and Angela Zelaya direct our choirs. Rita Kubela and the Sanctuary Decorations Committee continue to decorate the sanctuary for our annual cycles of worship. Furthermore, we are also holding joint worship services with Lutheran Church in the Foothills (LCIF) for Ash Wednesday and Thanksgiving Eve each year on a rotating basis.

Lastly but most importantly, we continue to faithfully offer Christ to and for all people. Our clear message to the Crescenta Valley community continues to be the following:

God loves you, and he has poured out his love for you in and through Jesus Christ. By his sacrificial death and resurrection life, Christ renews your life.

At Mt. Olive Lutheran Church we continue to proclaim Christ crucified for us and for all people. Visitors to Mt. Olive find God with his people. Every Sunday morning at 9:30am they find a grace-filled encounter with God through the Holy Word and Blessed Sacrament of Jesus our Lord, as well as through sacred prayers, time-honored hymns and spiritual songs. Moreover, every week at our midweek Bible study, and every third Saturday at our outreach Bible study at Panera, people find personal connection and spiritual relationship with each other around the Word of God within the Holy Scriptures.

May the love, grace and peace of Christ our Lord be with all of you!

Respectfully Submitted in the Name of Jesus Christ, Pastor Tim

2025 JUBILEE

The biblical observance of a Jubilee Year is a special Divinely-sanctioned year of universal forgiveness of debts and pardon for sins. In the Old Testament the Jubilee Year is mentioned to occur every 50th year, during which financial indebtedness would be forgiven, prisoners would be pardoned, and slaves would be freed. In Leviticus 25, the Lord God Almighty commands that the Jubilee Year shall be a holy year, stating, “Thou shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of thy land: for it is the year of jubilee” (25:10).

Regulating property rights was also included in the Jubilee observance found in the Book of Leviticus, and everyone was supposed to return to their family property in the Year of Jubilee. Moreover, the Jubilee Year was to be a time of reconciliation between adversaries and of personal conversion to faith in God.

As I write this newsletter article, it’s still the Season of Advent and it’s five days before Christmas Day. We have just finished our “Mary, Did You Know?” series for our midweek Advent services, and my mind is already turning to the New Year ahead. After contemplating the biblical answer to the question “Mary, did you know?” over the past several weeks of Advent, my mind is starting to shift to the themes of the various liturgical seasons of the Church calendar in 2025. And my prayer is that 2025 will be a year of personal, spiritual, national, and global Jubilee for all of us.

I pray that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee in our hearts, Jubilee in our homes, Jubilee among our friends and family, Jubilee for our city and state, Jubilee for our nation, and Jubilee for our whole world.

Just as Mary could not have known early in Jesus’ life that he would be the One and Only to give himself as the perfect offering of atonement for all humanity; and just as Mary (the woman uniquely graced by God to bear the Son of God) once held the infant Jesus in her arms while not knowing that she would one day hold his lifeless body in her arms at the foot of Jesus’ cross, as he thereby completed the once-and-for-all-time sacrificial offering for our infinite atonement and eternal life; and just as Mary could not have known that, after all the terror and death of Jesus’ crucifixion, she and many others would find his tomb to be empty on the morning of the third day, and they would encounter the risen Lord Jesus many times before his Heavenly Ascension, which brought ultimate victory over sin, death and the devil; and just as Mary and the Apostles could not have had detailed foreknowledge of the universal Jubilee of God’s salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we too do not know all of what God has in store for us in this Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-five, and in the years to come beyond it.

For as the Word of God declares within the Holy Scriptures, “Things no eye has seen and no ear has heard, that have not entered the heart of humankind — these things God has prepared for those who love him” (First Corinthians 2:9). Amen! And thanks be to God!

Happy New Year & Jubilee Blessings!!! Pastor Tim

MARY, DID YOU KNOW?

“Mary, Did You Know?” is the title of a famous Christmas song, and the following is a stanza from this beautiful song:  

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb? That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I Am…

Of course, the biblical answer to the question “Mary, did you know?” is a resounding Yes and No. By the angelic decree from the Archangel Gabriel, by the miraculous testimony of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, and by the power of the Holy Spirit within her, as well as by the report of the Bethlehem shepherds, Mary the Mother of our Lord did know that the infant Jesus in her arms would be the Messiah and Savior of Israel. However, she could not have known at that early point the full extent of the meaning of her firstborn baby boy. In fact, it wasn’t until forty days later that Mary started to get a greater awareness of the cosmic significance of Jesus’ conception, birth and life.

After Yeshua (Jesus) had been circumcised and incorporated into the Abrahamic Covenant at eight days old, Joseph and Mary later took the forty-day-old Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem “to present him to the Lord” as it says in Luke 2:22. For it was there in the Jerusalem Temple that the Prophets Simeon and Anna gave to Mary and Joseph the first prophetic glimpse of Jesus’ universal mission and ministry for all humanity. As Simeon and Anna beheld the infant Messiah, it was revealed through them that Jesus would be the salvation and redemption of “all peoples” (Luke 2:31), including both the Nation of Israel and the Gentile Nations. Moreover, it was revealed that day in the Temple that Jesus would be opposed by many, and that this opposition to Jesus would be “a sword” that would pierce Mary’s soul as well (Luke 2:35).

Many years later, with the events of Holy Week and Pentecost, all these prophecies came to pass. For Mary’s heart was pierced as she witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion as Heaven’s Perfect Lamb every agonizing step of the way to the Hill of Golgotha. Then she witnessed his post-resurrection appearances, and she was there at Pentecost when the Universal Church of Jesus Christ was born.

This year during the Season of Advent leading up to the Twelve Days of Christmastime, we will ponder Mary’s experience with Heaven’s Perfect Lamb at our midweek “Holden Evening Prayer” worship services at 7pm on the Wednesdays of December 4th, 11th, and 18th.

Good Advent & Merry Christmas!!! Pastor Tim

STEWARDSHIP & THE MIRACLE MAKER

In chapter 12 of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus addressed the subject of temple offerings. The following is from Mark 12:41-43…

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.”

Of course, Jesus is not saying that we should give to the work of God’s Kingdom to the point of financial hardship. Rather, he is saying that those who give out of their abundant wealth are not giving as much as those with far less wealth who give a lesser amount. In other words, Jesus is simply praising the generous spirit of the poor widow over and against the less generous spirit of the rich elite of Jerusalem.

While Jesus is not advocating for our impoverishment in Mark 12, he is certainly advocating for us to be as generous as possible (without material injury to ourselves) for the work of the ministry of God’s Kingdom for all people. Because of God’s unlimited grace for us in Christ Jesus our Lord, we are free to joyfully and cheerfully give whatever it is that we have pledged to the mission and ministry of our “temple” congregation, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. For that’s what it says in Second Corinthians 9:7, where it says, “Each of you must give as you have made up your own mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

ALL that we have and ALL that we are (absolutely everything) comes from God and belongs to God. From the Christian perspective, we are not owners but only stewards of all that the Creator gives to us — our lives, families, possessions, labor, income and talents. Therefore, everything that we have and everything that we are is to serve the glory of God for the sake of the world.

So, it’s not that we give a certain percentage to the work of God, and the rest is ours. No, it’s that 100% belongs to God, and we are to be good stewards of his 100%, including our offerings to our congregation. It is all from God anyway, and so it’s all in service of God’s Kingdom here in our earthly lives as a sweet foretaste of our heavenly lives to come. In other words, stewardship is everything we do after we say we believe. And stewardship is also the first things that we do. It’s the first fruits of our lives; the first fruits of everything.

“First fruits” means that we dedicate a certain amount of our time, talents and income to the work of God first thing — right off the top. For example, our Sunday worship service is the first fruits of our time each week, which is the morning of the very first day of the week. For another example, the Lord’s Prayer prayed each morning as we’re still sitting on the side of our bed (first thing) is a powerful first fruits practice. And of course, cheerfully giving a pledged amount of our income every pay period (first thing, right off the top) is a fundamental first fruits spiritual discipline.

Giving a set pledged amount to the work of God within our community of faith first thing off the top — rather than the last thing from the bottom dregs — is an act of worship that is multiplied by the offerings of others. As our Lord Jesus miraculously multiplied the loaves and fishes, we need to remember that it’s not for us to perform the miracle but it’s only for us to offer the five loaves and two fish. From everlasting to everlasting, the Lord God Almighty is the Miracle Maker and the Source of all that is, both seen and unseen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, eternal world without end! Amen!

Together in Christ, Pastor Tim

PLANTING TREES

There is no doubt that we live in a time of colossal and world-shattering change: socially, religiously, culturally, nationally, globally, etcetera. It is indeed the end of the world as we know it.

Historians have recognized that approximately every five hundred years human civilization goes through some kind of major transition from an older structure of things to a new one, and it sure feels like that’s exactly what’s happening in our time. In fact, the last major civilizational shift was the Protestant Reformation, five hundred years ago, when Martin Luther and the other Protestant Reformers sparked this world-changing transfiguration through their reforms of the Medieval Roman Church.

Today, the world as we have known it is rapidly being replace by an emerging reality that is not yet fully clear. Consequently, speculations of the various end times theologies and ideologies abound. And due to the influential pre-millennial theology of the Left Behind novels, some Christians have started to regard any global peacemaking initiative as automatically some kind of great antichrist deception.

Consequently, such Christians (in the name of Jesus) often orient themselves against work for international peace and reconciliation because their Left Behind theology says that such work is always secretly on the side of the evil one. However, our Lord Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). And when Martin Luther was asked what he would do today if he knew the world would end tomorrow, Luther said, “I would plant a tree.”

In other words, even if we knew that tomorrow the world was going to end and the Kingdom of God was going to come in its fullness, we are called to never stop planting “trees” today (both literally and metaphorically). That is, we are to especially plant the metaphorical trees of peace and truth and grace today, no matter what God has in store tomorrow.

God’s people are to always and continually take part in the creative and redeeming work of God today and every day! By the grace and power of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, we are to plant trees of faith in the midst of fear, trees of hope against all hope, and trees of righteousness and peace. And of course, we are to not forget to plant real trees that give us oxygen and help regulate the balance of life on God’s green Earth. Therefore, to prescribe and do anything other than this is to be “anti” (against) Christ.

As our Lord Jesus declares in Matthew 25:31-46, we are called to continue to labor to make the world a better place right up to the great Day of the Lord, the great Second Advent of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, we are to continue to work (right up to the very moment of Christ’s return) to ease human suffering, to promote equal treatment under law, and, of course, to be peacemakers in the name of Yeshua (Jesus) our Eternal Savior.

Together in Christ, Pastor Tim